By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign might be good for business. But it’s not so good for the aesthetics of the community. For years the city of Bowling Green has been working to clean up the view for visitors as they enter the city from Interstate 75.
Last week, the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals was faced with requests from Speedway, at 1650 E. Wooster St. The business has purchased the neighboring BP gas station property, and plans to demolish the BP structures and expand Speedway to both properties. Plans call for a 4,600-square-foot building, and eight gas pump pylons.
But the number, size and location of the signage proposed by Speedway did not meet city zoning standards. So the company requested variances for the new signage:
- To construct a pylon sign, which would encroach 9 feet into the 25-foot required front yard setback, and exceed the 25-foot maximum height limit by 4.5 feet.
- To construct a high-rise pylon sign, which would exceed the 112-square-foot maximum size by 88 square feet, exceed the 25-foot maximum height limit by 45 feet, encroach in the 25-foot front yard setback by 22.5 feet, and be off premise.
- To construct a total of nine signs, which would exceed the maximum number of three signs per business by six signs.
- For the total signage aggregate to be 539 square feet, which would exceed the 336 maximum total aggregate by 203 square feet.
Jonathan Wocher, representing Speedway, explained that some of the existing signs would be removed, and that the company has signage requirements.
Though the zoning board of appeals voted to approve all the variances, there were a couple voices of dissent.
“We spent five months discussing signs,” board member Rose Hess said. “East Wooster is so cluttered and inconsistent.”
Hess stressed that she is not anti-business, but she is pro-planning.
“We keep adding signs and signs and signs” to benefit businesses, she said. “We need to balance what is right for the town.”
Board member Nate Eberly agreed.
“What does the entrance to Bowling Green look like,” he said, pointing out the new roundabouts and the efforts to make the entrance to the city more attractive.
The zoning board of appeals needs to stick to its rules or “we’re setting ourselves up for nothing to be done” to improve the overall aesthetics of the entry to the community, Eberly said.
“I don’t like being labeled anti-business,” Hess said. “We just want you to respect our ordinance and rules.”
Board member Hobart Johnson pointed out that Speedway was going to get rid of some old signage and replace others.
“I understand the concerns,” Johnson said. “You’re going to have to have signs. With business comes signage.”
Also at last week’s meeting, the zoning board of appeals:
- Approved a request from Justin Marx, on behalf of BG Beerworks, at 322 N. Grove St. Marx asked for a variance to allow the expansion of indoor seating for his existing microbrewery, without providing the required number of parking spaces. He explained that BG Beerworks is a community gathering place, with many customers walking or bicycling to the business. The addition would allow for 24 additional seats.
- Approved a request from Josh and Tonya Haylett, of Kensington Boulevard, who want to construct an in-ground swimming pool which would encroach 11 feet into the 35-foot required front yard setback.
- Approved a variance request from Glenna Ralston, of Cedar Lane, who wants to build an addition to her home that would encroach 14 feet into the 30-foot required rear yard setback.
